United let 'Italian Messi' go - Zola
by Ben Blackmore, 13 July 2008
Gianfranco Zola believes Manchester United made a big mistake the day they allowed Giuseppe Rossi to join Villarreal.
United currently find themselves in a tug-o-war to keep one world class star in Cristiano Ronaldo, but Zola insists they could already have had another, had Rossi have stayed.
The 21-year-old Italian is preparing to go to the Olympics with Italy after scoring 11 goals in 27 league appearances for Villarreal last season.
Rossi’s raw talent was there for all to see during his short spell in United’s first team, and he even showed it during a loan spell at Parma that yielded nine goals in 19 Serie A appearances.
Despite being the stand-out player in United’s youth setup, Sir Alex Ferguson allowed the Italian to join Villarreal for around £7 million last summer.
It is believed United do have a buy-back clause in Rossi’s contract, but Zola believes that could prove costly for The Red Devils.
Zola has worked with Rossi while coaching the Italy Under-21s, and he believes he will one day become the best player in Italian football.
“He has class, knows where the goal is and makes a difference. Plus he's still young,” Zola told La Gazzetta Sportiva.
"Giuseppe Rossi is a phenomenon and our (Lionel) Messi.”